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Rodney Harrison made it official Wednesday, that 15 years as the one of the game's most ferocious and instinctive defenders was coming to an end.

“I am done, and I am very much so at peace with that,” the now-former strong safety said in a conference call with reporters. “Football has been good to me. I've worked hard; I've played hard. I've done some things that I never dreamt I could do, and now it's time to move forward to the next phase of my life.”

As Harrison made his announcement, one of his two former teams practiced at Chargers Park.

There aren't a lot of Chargers remaining from when Harrison played the last of his nine seasons here in 2002 – just Quentin Jammer, LaDainian Tomlinson and Jamal Williams.

Only Jammer was at Wednesday's workout.

“Everyone knows his play on the field was amazing,” Jammer said. “He was a different player on the field than off. People labeled him a dirty player. But he was one of the best dudes I've ever met as far as honesty and being a genuine guy.”

Harrison was released from the Chargers in the spring of 2003 as part of a salary dump and schematic change. He was a rookie during the team's only Super Bowl season, played in two Pro Bowls as a Charger and has the third-most interceptions (26) in team history.

His greatest achievements, however, came as a New England Patriot, with whom he signed in 2003 and spent the past six seasons.

Harrison, 36, won two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots. In nine postseason games with New England, Harrison had seven interceptions, tied for third-most in NFL history.

Even after playing just 41 games the past four seasons because of injury and a four-game suspension in 2007 due to a positive test for banned substance, Harrison retired with the NFL record for defensive backs with 30-½ sacks; he also has 34 interceptions, making him the only player to have at least 30 of each.

Those statistics might help get him in the Hall of Fame. But they are not what he'll be remembered for.

As Jammer alluded to, Harrison was known for play that many considered dirty.

In all, he was fined more than $200,000 in his career.

“People have called me a dirty player. I'm a very passionate player,” Harrison said Wednesday. “I also understand that this is not volleyball. This is a very violent, physical game, and if you hit someone in the mouth, you're not going to be their friend. That's what the game of football is.”

He had his admirers in San Diego, though.

Harrison faced the Chargers only twice as a Patriot, but his name still means something here even to those who were not his teammate and only played against him.

“For me, since I never played with him, it was knowing all the things he did for this organization and watching him play and knowing the impact he made at the strong safety position, which is not an easy position to make an impact,” tight end Antonio Gates said. “He was one of those guys you always needed to know where he was at. Even when he wasn't making all the plays anymore, you needed to know he could make them.”